Apologies for the lateness of this post – work got in the way. Kev
I have to confess, motivation to go to St Andrew’s on bank holiday Easter Monday was in short supply. The only thing that persuaded me to make the effort was the prospect of the UB40 concert following directly after the game. With the reduced train services available, I was forced to catch the earlier 09.45 train from Blackwater which would get me in to Coventry at 11.30. So it was, with Mrs Bazza questioning my sanity, that I set off down to the station. One of the positives was that it wasn’t raining and I got the train in plenty of time. I can honestly say I didn’t fancy us at all against the Lilywhites. Why should we after all? A princely total of a single point out of the last 21, an inability to score goals and a load of 89 minute defenders who switch off at vital moments making it impossible to keep a clean sheet is a recipe for relegation and it is with a feeling of complete desolation that I have largely given up all hope of survival this year. Yes, it is still in our own hands but I simply cannot see where ten or eleven points are coming from and our form is the worst of any of the teams struggling near the bottom of the league. I’m afraid the abject displays against Middlesbrough and Millwall coupled with the gift of the winning goal against us versus Watford and the disaster against QPR has done for us I’m afraid. I hope to be proved wrong but we just don’t seem to know how to win a game of football at the moment.
I arrived an hour earlier than usual and Little Jack was there to pick me up and we proceeded to Baginton to pick up Chris. Before setting off for St Andrew’s we paid a visit to the cemetery where Will and Chris’ mum was interred. The whole family were present including their sister Cheryl and their personal respects were paid and flowers laid at the graveside.
We arrived at the ground just before 2 pm and there was already a lively atmosphere building outside the Kop with outside bar, food kiosks and of course the Happy Abode where drinks were ordered. The place was busier than I’ve seen it and this I put down to the prospect of the UB40 concert rather than the prospect of a football match in between! We entered the ground half an hour before kick off and fortified by a pie and another pint we went up to our seats where the now usual pyrotechnics greeted the players. The stage for UB40 could be seen in the Gil Merrick end next to the noisy contingent of away supporters whose chants of “You’re only here for the concert!” was somewhat cruel but fair. The moment, full of apprehension, had arrived; the game was underway.
Blues started brightly with Juninho Bacuna spurning the first chance high and wide when well placed. Jordan James went really close on 15 minutes with a shot that grazed the foot of Freddie Woodman’s right hand post with the keeper only able to watch and hope.Blues were taking the game to the visitors but like so many games this season, Blues still failed to score when on top. Further blocked shots by James and Bacuna and a routine save from Paik Seung-ho promised but didn’t deliver. Blues were very unfortunate not to take the lead three minutes before the break when Lee Buchanan drove towards the area and unleashed a fierce left footed shot across the goal only to strike the left hand post and away for a goal kick. Preston offered little but how many times have we seen this scenario this season? I was waiting for them to score against the run of play. Right on half time, Robert Brady shot with their only effort on target but John Ruddy got down to smother the shot. It was the only dicey moment we had to endure and the teams went to the break all square.
In the second half Blues continued on the front foot with Krystian Bielik and Paik Seung-ho standing out as they dominated midfield. Bacuna was causing trouble for Preston down the left flank, Miyoshi was providing incisive passes but despite the ascendancy, we didn’t look as if we were going to score until following a fast well-worked break, Miyoshi provided a lovely through ball into the path of Jay Stansfield. It was at this moment that a little break, that in fairness, Blues have not had in recent times occurred. The covering defender slipped as he attempted to get to the striker leaving Stansfield with a forty yard run one on one with the keeper. Despite the sound of the hooves of retreating defenders in his wake, the young striker timed his finish to perfection sliding the ball past the advancing Woodman from twenty yards. As the ball rolled gently inside the right hand upright we were celebrating already! St Andrew’s erupted with a combination of elation and relief. There was still another 22 minutes plus time added to go. Blues went after a second and Seung-ho and Gary Gardner near the end with a cheeky lob nearly provided it. Preston did have a little flurry near the end but apart from one slightly hairy moment when Liam Millar missed with a shot over the bar, Blues managed the game well to secure a thoroughly deserved win.
The Good: A terrific result against a team that frankly we don’t tend to do well against. The UB40 concert after the game was amazing and having got the win beforehand helped with the atmosphere which was incredible.
The Bad: When we got back to the cars, Will’s car had been broken into and the dashboard ripped out in an attempt to hot wire and steal it. The morons involved clearly didn’t know how to complete this task and just left damage. Fortunately, the petrolhead that is Little Jack rewired the car so that Will could start his vehicle and get away. The boy is a genius!
The Ugly: The punishments of darkest hell that I wish on the imbeciles that smashed the windows of Will’s car. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits for eternity. A mar on an otherwise great day.
Birmingham City: John Ruddy 7, Ethan Laird 7, Dion Sanderson 7, Emanuel Aiwu 7, Lee Buchanan 7, Jordan James 7 (Andre Dozell 54, 7) Krytian Bielik 9, Kojo Miyoshi 7 (Keshi Anderson 81, N/A) Paik Seung-Ho 8 (Ivan Sunjic 90 + 2, N/A) Juninho Bacuna 8 (Gary Gardner 90 + 2, N/A) Jay Stansfield 8 (Scott Hogan 81, N/A)
Subs not used: Neil Etheridge, Tyler Roberts, Cody Drameh, Siriki Dembele.
Goals: Stansfield 68.
Yellow cards: Ethan Laird 82.
Preston North End: Freddie Woodman 7, Jack Whatmough 7, Andrew Hughes 7, Liam Lindsay 7, Robert Brady 6, Alistair McCann 6, Duane Holmes 6 (Josh Seary 92, N/A) Noah Mawene 6 (Liam Millar 63, 6) Will Keane 6 (Layton Stewart 74, 6) Mads Frokjaer-Jensen 5 (Ben Woodburn 63, 6) Emil Riis Jakobsen 5 (Milutin Osmajic 74, 5)
Subs not used: Greg Cunningham, Jordan Story, David Cornell, Kian Best.
Goals: None
Yellow cards: Will Keane 41.
Referee: Oliver Langford: 7; Good game I thought. Hardly noticed him which for a referee is a good sign.
Attendance: 24,511 (1,389 away fans)
Bazza KRO
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